Starter-valve.



1. nEsMoNn.

STARTER VALVE.

APPLICATION' FILED AuG.2,19|5.

Patented Sept. 17, 1918.

gmc/Moz JOI-IN DESMONI), 0F DETROIT, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR TO` GRAY-HAWLEY MANU FACTURF IN Gr COMPANY, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN, 1A CORPORATION OF IV.lICIII(`:rAN.V

STARTER-VALVE.

To all whom t may concern Be it known that I, JOHN DEsMoND, a citizen of the United States, residing at Detroit, in the county of Wayne and State of Michigan, have invented a new and useful Starter-Valve, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a starter c011 struction for motor vehicles, more particularly to the valve means whereby compressed air used in the actuation of the starter and for other purposes is controlled and distributed. Some of its objects are to provide means for relieving the wear ordinarily occurring on the softl parts of the valve when high pressures are used; to provide means whereby a hose or other connection may be readily attached for inilating tires; to provide means whereby the pressure from which this inflation is obtained is reduced to safe working limits; to provide means for readily exhausting the compressed air which accumulates'in the various passages leading to the starter; to provide vfor the attachment of a pressure gage; and to improve the starter construction generally.

In the drawings, FigureV 1 is a vertical section through a portion of la motor vehicle showing the valve installation. Fig. 2 is a central vertical section through the valve.

Similar reference characters refer to like parts.

In the embodiment of my invention shown, 1 indicates an air-driven starter for an internal combustion engine, the shaft of the latter being indicated at 2 and being mounted onthe .front cross bar 3, which mayinclose the front spring 4 of awell known type of motor vehicle. The starter contains an air pumpv (not shown) from which air is delivered, through the pipe 5 and checkvalve 5, to the storage tank 6 located at any convenient point, and a pipeI 8, which enters a valve casing9, mounted on the dash 10 or other desired portion of the vehicle, communicates the tank pressure to the distributing chamber 12 formed in the casing. Also formed in the casing is a discharge chamber 13 from which airis supplied to the starter to causea forward impulse thereof by means of the pipe 14.

Extending transversely across the casing is a wall 16 in which is located a seat 18 for the soft body 19 (preferably frusto-conical) of a valve, the point 20 of which, together with a clamping nut 21, serve to retainthe Specification of 4Letters Patent. Patented Sept, 137 1918, Application mea August 2, 1915. l l

Serial No. 43,292.

` portion 19 in position. v*The body of the vfit of the stem in the guide, while loose, isV

not sufliciently so to allow air to pass undesirably fast, consequently a heavier pressure than that allowed in the tires may be. used for'starting purposes. It will be seen, therefore, that the stem and guide constitute a pressure reducing means. A spring 32 nor mally forces the soft portion. 19 into sealing engagement with the seat.

' The valve seat 18 merges into a preferably cylindrical guide 35 in vwhich-is somewhat loosely received the head 36 of a plunger 38 that extends thro-ugh the chamber 13 and has its rear endsupported in the guide 39. It will be seen that this guide passes through the dash 10 and is threaded toreceive a cap 40 (a washer 41 being` interposed, if desired) within which is formed an exhaust chamber 42 in communication with -the atmosphere through ythe passages 43; and the cap-Vis also provided with a hollow neck 44 in which an operating rod 45, having a head 46 in. alinelment with the plunger, is reciprocable. At

its outer or rear end, the valve may be supplied with the hand or foot contact 47. The end 36 of the plunger is Vpreferably cupshaped to receive and exert pressure on the valve point 20, and has its rear face 48 of conical form to correspond to the seat 18; it is also provided with the longitudinal passage 49 which communicates, through the lateral passages 50, with the exhaust chamber 42. h

Operation: Assuming the parts are 1n the position shown, the soft portion of the valve is pressed against the seat by the' spring 32 and air is prevented from escaping through the chamber 13 and pipe 14. Pressure now being applied to the operating rod 45, the plunger is thrust to the rightto force the valve from its seat, and, during the earlier part of the movement, the head 36 prevents the escape of any appreciable amount of air past the valve seat. This, in turn, avoids the usual abrasion of the soft parts by the particles of dust and the like which are carried in the thin blast. However, as soon as the valve is removed a safe distance from its seat, theface 48 of the plunger clears the :seat.18-f.and the current of air -isthen-'admitted intoithe chamber 113. Atthe l.endiofthe forward stroke of the starter, pressure is removed from the operating rod :and the spring 32 re-seats the valve, after Whichthe :airfi-n the chamberl and .pipe i124: vgradually escapes through the hollow plunger, any such action having previously been prevented by the sealing of thepassages .50 within the guide 39. The pressure .inthe chainber '513 4is thus relieved whether the `head 36 .is entirely out of the guide 3.5 `or not. As a matter of fact, the vibration of kthe vehicle tends "to k,gradually retract :the head from `the guide. "The momentum ;ac quiredby the plunger in its movement with the valve'head also tends to causethe head 36 l'to clear `the guide'B and thus allow the 'free escape of the pressure fluid lfrom .the chamber 13, as does the resultant pressure on the' plunger of .the airin the chamber 13 and in the space between the .head .'36 .and thevalve s'stated, compressed air for thetiresmay "be 'obtained at a safe wor-king pressure 'by means of the .hose'30, valve 29 and .pressurereducing device 23-425; and the Vgenge .51, loeate'd'in sightof the driver .and connected to Lthe chamber l2 "by 'the pipe '52, Vserves an Obvious-Purpose The details of construction may Ybe Achanged considerably without departing .froni'the spiritofin-y invention. do not, therefore, wish to`be limited otherwise ,than

asfin'dieated bythe subjoined claims.

'El claims1. in combination, a -va'lve .casing having aipressurech'aniber and a discharge. chai'nber :formed therein, said chambers vlbei-ng .separated `by a perforated -wall shaped 'to form a valve seat, a valve 'for the seat, said valve ibeing 4`.located in 'the `pressure chamber .and comprising a sotlportion arrangedV to engage lwith 'tlieseat, resilient means for forcing 'the valve against "the seat, a plunger having a Y 'head v'located in the discharge Ychamber"andarranged tobe slid bodily v'lon- Y lg'itudinaflly offits own aXis into engagement with thevalve lwhereby the latter maybe removed from contact with the seat, .said plunger being -hollow and "having ahead that serves to close 4the perforation 'the v-waill until after the `soft portion o'f.' the `valve has 4been removed :from lthe seat a predetermined distance, and, upon further movement, allowingthepassage of air from one "chamber-.to :the other, whereby .cutting fdffthe soft partoi' the lvalve due to thin currents Y"o-f air "is avoided, "the plunger being arranged toleXtentl thiough the wall of 'the discharge chamber, .the passage i'throujgh jtlie `vplungerlbeingclosed by the"valvewhbn the plunger is in engagement therewith, said passage being .open =when1the1plunger isi dis,- `engaged :from the Halve, whereby compressed air may then be exhausted :trom the `discharge chamber. Y i

2. In combination, a valvecasing having distributing chamber and a discharge .Chamber formed therein, said chambers bey means is .provided between .the stein :and the -Y wall Loli' saidropening'orvadinitting air to the Y' conduit at a pressure yconsiderably below `'that .in 4.the distributing fchamber, a l.plunger fhaxing .a A.head locatedfin the .discharge .chamber .and varranged to-be movefdfinto Jen.- ygagement with the `.valve .whereby the .latter inaybe .removed .from .contact Iwith ,the seat, Y

.said plunger servingfto .close the perforation lin :the `wall until .after the soft por-tion lof the valve vhas been :removed :from .the i Seat .a predetermined distance, and, upon vfurther movement, .allowing the passageotairvfroin one chamber tothe .oth'er,..the wholearrange ment 'being .such .that thecutting of the soft part ofthe valve due .to-.thin :currents otairV is avoided.

3. In v.coinbinat'ionn a ,valve ,casing Ihaving a distributing .chamber .and .a idisehange chamber formed therein, .said Achambers being .separated .by a .perferated wall .shaped to fform .a .valve-seat, the Qpposite wallni'ithe distributing chamber having an opening tlieietlirongh, .a .conduit yleading 'from 'the opening, means ttor .closing .the conduit., :a

valve for .the seat, .said valve .having a stein.

.extending yinto .said opening whereby .means isfprovidedbetween the stemand the wallet said opening 'for admitting iiuidto the `conduit at a lpressure considerably below .that

in the distributing chamber.

4;, In combination, Va Y valve .casing .having a distributing ichaniber .and ,a discharge chamber formed therein, said .cliambei being yseparateil by a Eperforated lwallsliaped 'toform a valve-seat, Vaplurality of conduits leading `from the A.dist-r"ibutii ig chamber,

vmeans `for closing .one of the conduits, a

valve 1:toi-'the seat, and means'associated with said valve for admitting ,fluid .,to `the Vlast ,named conduit at .a .pressure Y.consid.ei-ably below 'thatin the distiiibuting chan'iber.

In testimony whereof I havesigned 'this specification. V

JOHN DESMQND. 

